Michael Winslow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Winslow
Winslow in 2008
Birth name	Michael Leslie Winslow
Born	(1958-09-06) September 6, 1958 (age 66) Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up, film, television, radio, voice-over
Nationality	American
Years active	1980–present
Genres	Beatboxing, character comedy, physical comedy, improvisational comedy
Subject(s)	Pop culture, American culture
Spouse	Belinda Church ​ ​ (m. 1985; died 1993)​ Angela Baytops ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2001)​ Sharon Winslow ​ ​ (m. 2003; div. 2014)​
Children	2
Notable works and roles	Comedy Sound Smackdown Larvell Jones in Police Academy Radar Technician in Spaceballs

Michael Leslie Winslow (born September 6, 1958) is a super talented American actor and comedian. He's famous for making amazing sounds with just his voice! People call him The Man of 10,000 Sound Effects because he can create so many realistic noises. You might know him as Larvell Jones from the Police Academy movies. He also appeared in Spaceballs and many other films and TV shows.

Early Life and Sound Skills

Michael Winslow was born in Spokane, Washington, in 1958. He grew up near an air force base. When he was a kid, Michael didn't have many friends. To keep busy, he would practice making sounds. He could copy engines, animals, and all sorts of noises!

This special talent helped him earn money performing in clubs. Eventually, he moved to Hollywood. There, he shared his amazing sound skills with more people. He even went to the Lisa Maile School to learn more about acting.

Michael's Amazing Career

Michael first showed off his talents on a TV show called The Gong Show. He impressed everyone by making sounds like the movie dog Benji. He also imitated sounds from Star Trek and even a Jimi Hendrix song.

Starring in Police Academy

Michael is best known for playing Larvell Jones in the Police Academy movies. He was chosen for the role after someone saw him perform before a Count Basie concert. He appeared in all seven Police Academy films. He also starred in the Police Academy: The Series TV show.

Beyond Police Academy

In 1985, Michael released a song called "I Am My Own Walkman." It was a hit in Australia! In 1986, he even presented an Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing. He played Spencer on the TV show The Love Boat that same year.

Michael also appeared in the movie Spaceballs in 1987. He played a radar operator. In one scene, he made all the sound effects himself! The director, Mel Brooks, said Michael saved the movie money by doing this.

Modern Appearances and Apps

Michael continues to perform stand-up comedy around the world. He also hosted a TV series called Way Back Wednesday with Winslow. This show featured movies from the 1980s.

In 2010, Michael launched his own iPhone and iPod Touch apps. One app, ThatsKungFu, made kung fu fighting sounds when you moved your device. Another app, NoizeyMan, had videos, ringtones, and games made by Michael.

He also provided all the sound effects for a mobile game called Wizard Ops Chapter 1. Later, he worked on its follow-up, Wizard Ops Tactics. You might have seen him in a commercial for GEICO Insurance too.

In 2020, Michael was a guest star on the show Game Changer. He won an episode in 2021! The same year, he auditioned for America's Got Talent. He showed viewers how he makes his famous noises.

In 2022, Michael was featured in a popular YouTube video called "Video Game Sound." This video introduced his amazing work to many video game fans.

Film and Television Roles

Michael Winslow has been in many movies and TV shows. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Michael Winslow para niños